Understanding CCP for Raw Meat
Hello,
I am trying to understand CCPs, when I think about temperature of the product I am told that the CCP should be the hottest point of a product from inspectors but how I understand is that it should be where the temperature at its critical point (ie: the hottest point) is controlled.
Ex: If a raw meat is out for 30 minutes for processing and hits 54 F after starting in the 30's (I thought this would not be a CCP as I reference the Tompkin? paper), then goes into cold storage (freezer), would the CCP would be the freezer since the temperature is being controlled back down to an acceptable temperature or would the CCP be in packaging as the temperature is controlled the best in that state.
All our products are sent out frozen.
Thanks in advance.
In order to identify the CCPs, you need first to conduct hazard analysis/risk assessment for all the identified process steps. There, you will be able to identify the hazards that are highly significant and needs specific control measure.
Yes, which we have and our assembly lines are when the product is at its hottest point so thats why our CCP would be in the freezer but it seems like our inspectors disagree.
Clarify a couple of things please
Are you cooking this product??
Are you chilling before freezing? e.g. blast freezing step
In all likely hood you'll have more than 1 CCP in your process---as PP mentioned, you need to thoroughly complete your HA to make the final determination
What regulations are you working under?
Hello,
I am trying to understand CCPs, when I think about temperature of the product I am told that the CCP should be the hottest point of a product from inspectors but how I understand is that it should be where the temperature at its critical point (ie: the hottest point) is controlled.
Ex: If a raw meat is out for 30 minutes for processing and hits 54 F after starting in the 30's (I thought this would not be a CCP as I reference the Tompkin? paper), then goes into cold storage (freezer), would the CCP would be the freezer since the temperature is being controlled back down to an acceptable temperature or would the CCP be in packaging as the temperature is controlled the best in that state.
All our products are sent out frozen.
Thanks in advance.
Hi new2fs,
It sounds like you may have to take a course on HACCP/hazard analysis. Hopefully you have some technical background. The above is mainly talking about Critical Limits and (for cooking) "hottest" is the exact opposite of the appropriate requirement.
In your example, the time would also be a factor in addition to temperature if micro.growth is the identified significant hazard. Elsewhere you need to understand how the hazard analysis prioritises the choice/location of CCPs.
Clarify a couple of things please
Are you cooking this product??
Are you chilling before freezing? e.g. blast freezing step
In all likely hood you'll have more than 1 CCP in your process---as PP mentioned, you need to thoroughly complete your HA to make the final determination
What regulations are you working under?
We do not cook this product.
It goes straight into a freezer then it is packed frozen.
We have done a HA but third party auditors do not agree with it.
Hi new2fs,
It sounds like you may have to take a course on HACCP/hazard analysis. Hopefully you have some technical background. The above is mainly talking about Critical Limits and (for cooking) "hottest" is the exact opposite of the appropriate requirement.
In your example, the time would also be a factor in addition to temperature if micro.growth is the identified significant hazard. Elsewhere you need to understand how the hazard analysis prioritises the choice/location of CCPs.
We are using our freezer as a CCP because it reduces the temperature of our product to an acceptable limit. We do not handle our raw meat for a long time and I have inspectors telling us that the CCP should be the hottest point in our system which I disagree with so I guess that's the reason I am somewhat confused.